The latest word from the Hollywood hype machine is that Angelina Jolie is set to show her dark side again, as she plays the evil witch Maleficent in a new live-action version of Sleeping Beauty. The new version will be directed by Tim Burton, reportedly, and is named Maleficent because it's a "postmodern" retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story from the witch's perspective.

TIm Burton has been revisiting a lot of classic stories, with his new and eccentric takes on Sweeney Todd, Willy Wonka, Sleepy Hollow, and most recently Alice in Wonderland. This time he'd be taking on one of the most beloved Walt Disney classics, and some are surprised that the often conservative Disney company would let this master of weirdness re-envision their venerable cartoon classic.

I'd love to see this happen, Burton at the helm and Jolie as Maleficent sounds like a natural fit. With the huge success of Alice in Wonderland Burton should be able to pick whatever project he wants right now.

Angelina Jolie: "Maleficent"!
screenrant

Is Angelina Jolie Maleficent? Well, if some of the pro-Jennifer Aniston tabloids are to be believed - yes. However, the wonderfully charitable Oscar-winning actress (and fantastic wife and mother) may well be portraying one on the big screen as her name has now been mentioned in conjunction with Walt Disney Pictures' Maleficent, which Tim Burton is rumored to direct...

Angelina Jolie: "Maleficent"!

One of the NBA's mot fetching all-star couples this weekend will be Brandi Padilla and Kevin Garnett, who have been together since 2004. Two years ago Garnett put the diamond ring on her finger and he and Brandy got married in a small private ceremony. The wedding also happened to be planned at the same time as the Olympics, and Kevin Garnett did the right thing for his wife and missed the big event so he could be there for his and her big day. Brandi Padilla is also the sister in law of legendary producer Jimmy Jam, who married her older sister.

Kevin Garnett is a perennial NBA all-star, sure to go down as one of the all-time greats, and had a long and successful run as a very popular Minnesota player, before coming to the Boston Celtics whom he led to an NBA title, his first. He erupted in a spectacular celebration when the championship series ended, showing tons of emotion.

As Valentine's Day comes around on the same weekend as the NBA All-Star Game, NBA husbands are sure to be making special plans for the special someone on the big weekend. Or at the very least, NBA wives are surely making plans to make sure they are the ones the husband spends the weekend with!

Brandi and Kevin make a beautiful couple, as you see in the photos linked below, and here's hoping to a lovely Valentine's day date for them. Garnett's NBA contract should bring a lot of flowers and chocolates.

Kevin Garnett Wedding: Trumped Olympic Games!
celebrityspouses

Kevin married Brandi Padilla, his long time girlfriend, in August 2004. She joins a long list of hot NBA wives. Personally, I think she is absolutely gorgeous! Just check the photo below and see for yourself. Brandi Padilla is the sister-in-law of record producer Jimmy Jam. Jimmy is married to Brandi's older sister, Lisa Padilla. Garnett married long time girlfriend Brandi Padilla during a private ceremony in California...

Kevin Garnett Wedding: Trumped Olympic Games

Last week I got a last-minute invite from soundctrl.com to host their event at the new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex here in NY. Among the speakers at this shindig was the great and mighty Chuck D (along with Albert Wenger from Union Square Ventures and Lisa Grey from Green Label Sound, who were very cool as well)

It wasn't my first time getting to meet Chuck (he was once kind enough to stay on the phone witht me for over an hour for an interview, while he drove down the interstate for his next gig) but every time is an honor..I pop up about two minutes into the video, and Chuck comes on right after me, then a little Q&A (that mostly consists of me getting out of Chuck's way after I fail to get a complete question out, LOL)

Wasn't planning to do this on weekends, but making an exception for this little shoutout.
(Hat tip to feministing)

Here's a fascinating psychological study, apparently inspired by my How to Tell Someone They Sound Racist video. Beyond the general train-wreckiness and the mistaken assumption that I am white, I'm intrigued by how he equates "talking black" with being "illiterate," and then how he projects both onto me even though I actually use very little slang in the video he watched (at least if I remember correctly, can't double-check now cuz I'm in the library). I guess some people have such a visceral reaction to what they perceive as a black inflection/accent that it somehow filters into their brain as "you bees a ferd grait dropout," even when the words being spoken are actually standard english?

Friday, November 21, 2008 10:29 AM
Subject: word
From: "Dutch Request" [XXXXXXXXXXXX@hotmail.com]
To: jsmooth@illdoctrine.com

Dogg,

My dogg. You am da man. Know what I'm sayin', yo? Da man. I'll even be giving you and extra "n" - da manN. That make you extra.

Self-loathing crackas like you who feel like they have to "be talkin like illiterates, yo" are equal to the condescending, elitist, right-wingers who've never had a blow job in their lives.

You know what I'm sayin', yo? Whats I means is you iz da same as Hannity, bitch.

So you keeps talkin' like you bees a ferd grait dropout, yo, and continue to thow the word ray-ciss in the feeble attempt to sew a scarlet "R" on people heds who happen to notice that bleck folk can't shut the fuck up in a movie theater. You fill me, yo? Know what I'm sayin'? Obama is about change. You is about sittin' in yo crib, smokin' blunts and bein' "DOWN" cause you talk funny and own a Snoop CD.

Now, look in the mirror, check yo race, and go fuck yourself.

Umm, as opposed to "pro-life"? A rather odd exchange between Chris Matthews and George Will on MSNBC Hardball yesterday.

Some video I caught last night at the Knitting Factory, Jeru Tha Damaja jumping on stage with Tha Alkaholiks.. many other heads in the house, Tony Touch, The Beatnuts, Greg Nice..

List of Demands is actually an old track, from Saul Williams' 2004 solo album, but it's blowing up right now thanks to its appearance in a Nike ad (get that paper Saul!).